NUNEATON town centre residents say a disused former Nuneaton social club which has become prey to firebugs is putting lives at risk.

Firefighters from across Warwickshire were called to the former Abbey Sports and Leisure Club in Meadow Street twice over the weekend after fires were lit inside.

According to people in the area, the club has been boarded up for at least a year - and developers have been planning to build flats on the site.

But the brick building, which backs on to businesses and a community centre in Upper Abbey Street, is not scheduled for demolition for at least another week.

Sheralyn Byron, who lives in nearby flats at Dillon Court, watched as around eight fire engines from as far away as Hinckley and Coleshill turned up to the site on Saturday afternoon.

She believes the problem is being caused by young tear-aways with nothing better to do.

She said: "We went down there last night with a torch to check it out and they had ripped the boards off the windows again.

"The fire brigade have had to put the boards back up. Why can't someone put up steel mesh up to stop them from getting in?

"We would like to see it gone. We just want them to knock it down for now - that would be a start - it would stop it being burnt down."

Residents have heard there could be asbestos on site - and worry that if another fire rips through the building, their homes could have to be evacuated.

Sheralyn added: "There are garages all along the wall [of the club] and if it goes up again the cars inside will be in trouble. The fire will go straight into the garages."

A planning application was put in to the council last year to put up 14 flats in a three-storey block on the site of the club.

But 41-year-old Sheralyn, who is on incapacity benefit, added: "I can't see the point. Why put flats up? There's an empty block opposite which has been there nearly three years and is not occupied."

A police spokeswoman confirmed police had been in attendance at the club on Saturday afternoon.

A spokeswoman for Warwickshire Fire and Rescue said: "We attended two incidents at a disused gym in Meadow Street. The building has now been boarded up and crews have been making regular visits to make sure the building remains safe."